Liverpool's Manager Provides Zero Justifications and Vows to Plot Way From Malaise

Arne Slot declared he had to “look at myself” following the Reds endured a 6th loss in seven English top-flight matches on their own turf against Nottingham Forest and insisted he would find a way out of the title holders' poor run.

Nottingham Forest, in the relegation zone prior to the match, delivered the largest win at Liverpool's stadium in their club records as the Merseyside club slipped to an eighth defeat in 11 matches in all competitions. The British record signing, the Swedish striker, was again unnoticeable and Liverpool argued the defender's first goal should have been ruled out for similar reasons to Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed effort versus City prior to the international break. But Slot admitted the buck rested with him and made no excuses.

“No one wants to listen to me now talking about refereeing decisions if you are defeated 3-0 in your own stadium to Forest,” stated the Liverpool head coach. “I ought to examine my own role initially and my team, but it demonstrates you how a goal can change the flow of a match. Earlier I was just hoping for us to score a strike. Later we hardly created anything.

“Of course there is a path forward, particularly with the quality players we have. Regardless if you win or are beaten when you look back you are always considering: ‘Where can we do better, in what aspects can we make changes?’ but that is different from doubting your abilities.

“I want to emphasise I am accountable for the current defeats. You are answerable when you are winning but also responsible when you are defeated. I can never provide enough reasons for us to have the results we have. That is not acceptable and I am responsible for that.”

The team's performance fell apart as the coach made several offensive changes when pursuing the game. “It was the identical away at Nottingham Forest last season,” he said. “I took Ibou [Ibrahima Konaté] out and put on [Diogo] Jota and he scored immediately to equalize at 1-1. Then it was brave, currently it’s probably unwise.”

Liverpool previously were defeated in back-to-back at Anfield league fixtures against Nottingham Forest in 1963. The most recent occasion they lost back-to-back top-flight matches by a 3-0 scoreline was in 1965.

The manager commented: “It was extremely poor. Playing at home, conceding 3-0 regardless of which team you encounter is a terrible result. Surprising if you look at the opening 30 minutes of the match. I did not witness us creating so much in the initial half-hour maybe the entire campaign, and the first time they arrived in our penalty area they found the back of the net.

“It did not happen against Manchester City, but in all other fixture we have been the controlling side and were capable to generate opportunities. Recently it is nearly consistently that we miss our opportunities and the attempts we concede find the net.”